Electrical terminal



H. DALITZ.

ELECTRICAL TERMINAL.

APPucAlqN FILED MAR. l. |919.

Pnted Oct. 28,1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY DALITZ, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOB, OF ONE-HALF T0 J. O. HIPP, 0F

CLEVELAND, OHIO. 4

ELECTRICAL TERMINAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Oct. 28, 1919.

Application filed March 1, 1919. Serial No. 279,934.

To aZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY DALrrz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Terminals, of which the following is a specification.

My invent-ion relates to electrical terminals, and the object of the invention is to provide a spring connector for electric wires adapted to permit quick and positive attachment and detachment of a. wire conductor with a storage battery or other electrical apparatus.

Thus referring to the drawing forming part of this application, Figure 1 is a front view of a spring connector constructed according to my conception, showing the compression band in cross section and encircling the upper steps of the' spring shanks, the extremities of said shanks eing spread apart substantially to their maximum and engaged with a terminal lug of a battery shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 but with the band slipped down and around the second step on the Shanks which are thereby pressed correspondingly nearer as in gripping a smaller conductor or terminal lug of a battery. Fig. 3 is a side view of the connector shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 'i is a plan View of the wire gripper and compression band, without a wire, and Fig. 5, shows the band compressed between a thumb and linger as in opening the Wire gripping jaws. Fig. 6 is a bottom view of Fig. 2, and Fig. 7 across section on line 77, Fig.V 2, showing a wire clamped Within the gripping jaws. Fig. 8 is a front View of a modified form of the invention showing the shanks completelyclosed in full lines and wide open in dotted lines.

The invention comprises a connector made of flat spring metal bent double 'or into bow form with a round spring loop 2 and two diverging spring shanks 3 and 4. Each shank has stepped surfaces 5, G, 7 and 8` which are 'Hat butI slightly inclined relatively to each other successively from top to bottom thereof and the lower end or ex- .tremity of each shank is bent inward a short distance and serrated or provided with sharp teeth 9 adapted to afford a good grip and electrical contact, especially where soft material is engaged as in a battery lug or termnalmadeof lead, The inherent spring in the loop 3 spreads the Shanks apart, and

and positively clamped between the serrated ends 9 of the shanks. Each pair of steps is also of substantially the same length .as the band, and by inclining the stepped surfaces slightly in respect to euch other the hand is adapted to make a Hush or flat seating engagement the full length of each pair of steps when engaged successively therewith. The inherent spring in the Shanks also permits the Shanks to flex when gripping an object, and the tension may be varied by shifting the band from one pair of steps to another, although the several steps permit positive clamping of the Shanks upon objects of different size Without springing the Shanks excessively or to their injury.

Moreover, the flat surfaces of each pair of nally at one side and forming a curled iange and semi -circular seat 14 for the wire in one divided portion of the band and an overlapping hook with a straight inturned flange 15 in the aifjoining portion of the band. This hand is also made of spring metal and the tendency of the divided parts is to spread so that the curled and straight flanges are held in engagement, but by compressing the band between the finger and thumb, whether the band is pressed alone or together with the spring Shanks of the connector, the said lianges 14 and l5 are pressed apart suiiiciently to permit the straight hare wire to be inserted. Upon relu-.ving the compression on theI band, the inherent spring will lock the wire in place, and in use the band also confines the spring shanks which impart a still stronger 25. shanks to spreading pressure upon the band and wire. 1t is possible, however, to compress the band and remove the wire Without unclampin the spring shanks from the battery lug, an this 1s sometimes an advanta e in makin or changing connection. 0n e other han the band ma be slipped from one pair of steps to -anot er to clamp the shanks upon battery lu of varying width and shape without re easing the grip on the wire, and b having the Wire coupled to the band the electrical resistance offered `by the Shanks is lessened the nearer the band is slipped or enga ed with the serrated clamping; ends of the s anks. A positive clampin auction is also obtained by using the han as de scribed and the connection is a permanent one and not one which will break or loosen and cause trouble during battery charging operations.

In Fig. S I show a niodiied form of connector 16 having Shanks with stepped en largements 17 near the lower clamping ends thereof, and these enlargements permit the be placed under tension by the band when the serrated ends are closed upon.

each other, although substantially the same effect is obtained in the other form of shank shown in Fig. 1, roviding the band enoiroles the lower ends of the Shanks.

What I claim is:

1. An electrical terminal connector, comprising a spring bow having diverging Shanks, and a split s ring band for said `shanks having flanged) portions adapted to detachably bind a wire therebetween.

2. An electrical terminal connector, comprisin a spring-bow having stepped Shanks, and aat spring-metal band in slip engagement with said stepped shank having overlappin tachab y `bind a Wire therebetween.

3. An electrical terminal connector, com- 'prising a pair of stepped spring Shanks having serrated clamping ends, and a d1- vided band of spring-metal having a semiround seat for a Wire and a binding member for the wire opposite said seat.

Si ned at Cleveland, in the county 0f Cuya oga, and State of Ohio, this 17th day of February, 1919.

l HARRY DALITZ.

divisional portions adapted to de-` 

